Cabinet covers



J. 'J. HOFFMAN CABINET covERs Oct. 11, 1955 Filed March 9, 1954 IN V ENTOR.

JOSEPH J. HOFFMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent O CABINET COVERS JosephJ. Hoffman, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 415,137

Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates generally to covers forcabinets or casings, and is particularly directed to a cover for acabinet disposed within a window opening, such as the casing of a roomair conditioner.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustratedin the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greaterdetail, comprises generally a box-shaped enclosure fabricated offlexible sheet material and having one end open for receiving thecabinet; and, resilient means are provided for maintaining the enclosurein snug, conforming engagement about the cabinet.

There are, of course, many covers or enclosures on the market adaptedfor use with window cabinets, but such covers commonly require the useof tie cords or drawstrings for effecting snug engagement with thecasing. Obviously, this construction is extremely unsatisfactory,requiring knotting and untying of the drawstring to cover and uncoverthe casing and the cord and adjacent cover portions being subject torepeated abrasion, and consequent rapid wear and deterioration. Further,the tie cord of prior devices seriously detracted from the neatness andattractiveness of such devices.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide acover of the type described which overcomes the above mentioneddifliculties, which permits the quick and easy placement and removal ofthe cover with respect to the cabinet, and wherein tie cords anddrawstrings, together with the time consuming and laborious manipulationthereof, are completely eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a windowcabinet cover having the characteristics mentioned in the foregoingparagraph, which is simple in construction and durable in use, obviatingthe rapid wear inherent in prior devices, and which is neat andattractive, and can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Figure l is a top perspective view showing a cover constructed inaccordance with the present invention in operative assembly with awindow cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a partial, bottom perspective view showing the assembly ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a partial, sectional view taken substantially along the line3--3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the embodimentillustrated therein comprises a window, generally designated 10, acabinet 11, such as the casing of a room air conditioner, disposedwithin the window opening, and a cover, generally designated 12,enclosing the cabinet.

ICC

Conventional window construction includes a generally horizontal sill13, a pair of spaced stiles 14, 14 which extend upwardly from the sill,and a lintel (not shown) which spans the upper ends of the stiles andcombines with the stiles and sill to define the window opening. Aconventional window sash 15 is disposed within the Window opening andmounted for vertical sliding movement in the Stiles 14.

The casing or cabinet 11 is commonly disposed within the Window opening,having its underside seated on the sill 13, its rear or outer endextending outwardly beyond the sill, and its front or inner endextending inwardly beyond the sill.

While the cover 12 of the present invention has been primarily developedand employed in connection with the housings or casings for windowmounted air conditioner units, and will be described hereinafter withparticular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the device may alsobe advantageously employed with other, different types of cabinets.However, as room air conditioning units are usually permanently mountedin window openings, and as it is highly desirable to protect the unitfrom the harsh winter elements, the invention has found its greatestapplication as a cover for such units.

The cover 12 is generally rectangular in its distended configuration andpreferably fabricated of waterproof, flexible sheet material or fabric,having good weather resistant qualities. The cover includes a generallyrectangular bottom wall 17, see Fig. 2, which is laterally coextensiveand in underlying engagement with the underside of the cabinet 11outwardly of the sill 1.3, and has its forward edge 18 adapted toabuttingly engage with the edge of the sill, as will be described morefully hereinafter. Extending upwardly from the rear edge of the bottomWall 17 and laterally coextensive therewith is a flexible, generallyrectangular rear wall 19 in facing engagement with the rear or outerside of the casing 11; and, a generally rectangular top cover Wall 20 issecured to the upper edge of and laterally coextensive with the rearwall 19 and extends forwardly in facing engagement with the upper sideof the casing. The bottom, rear and top cover Walls 17, 19, and 20,respectively, are preferably formed of a single sheet of flexiblematerial, but it is appreciated that the walls may be made individuallyand secured together, or otherwise as desired. For example, the coverWalls may be provided with any selected type of ornamentation ordecoration.

Formed on the top wall 20 is an inwardly extending flap or extension 22,also fabricated of flexible sheet material and laterally coextensivewith the top wall. The extension or iiap 22 is adapted to overlie andengage with the upper side of the casing 11 and extend inwardly orforwardly beyond the window sash 15. Thus, the sash may be lowered, tothe position shown in Fig. l, so as to clamp the top wall extension 22between the sash andthe casing, for a purpose appearing more fullyhereinafter.

On opposite sides of the casing 11, and in facing engagement therewith,are spaced, cover side walls 23, of generally rectangular configuration.As the opposite cover side walls 23 are identical in structure,illustration and description of one is believed suicient. The side walls23 are also fabricated of flexible, preferably waterproof, sheetmaterial, and have their lower, rearward and upper edges secured to theside edges of the bottom, rear and top cover walls, respectively, as bystitching or other suitable means. lfhus, each of the side cover walls23 will be in facing engagement with one side of the casing 11, andpreferably have its inner or forward edge 24 disposed within the windowopening to entirely cover and enclose the exterior cabinet portion. Asthe inner side wall edge 24 and the lower side wall edge portion 25,which overlies the window sill 13, are free or unsecured, it has beenfound 3 highly desirable to provide stiffening means for maintaining theside walls 23 in distended condition and prevent flapping or openingmovement of the latter, as might be caused by wind or rain. Toward thisend, an elongated, relatively rigid member or rod 27 is arrangedalongside of and secured to each of the side walls 23 between thecabinet 11 and the associated side wall. More particularly, a flexible,elongated sheet 28 is secured, as by stitching 29 or other suitablemeans, to the inner face of each of the side walls 23 in a diagonal orrearwardly inclined disposition, and combines with the adjacent sidewall to define a pocket 30 for receiving and holding the rod 27. Statedotherwise, the pocket 30 is formed by the sheet 28 on the inner surfaceof the side wall 23 toreceive and hold the stitfening member or rod 27in a rearwardly inclined disposition extending substantially diagonallyacross the side wall from the rear or outer upper corner toward theforward, unsecured lower corner. Thus, the side walls 23 are held indistended condition and thereby substantially prevented from apping,curling, bending or the like.

Arranged outwardly of and along each of the cover side walls 23 is anelastic band or other suitable resilient means 32. The band 32 has itsupper end 33 secured to the top and side cover walls at the juncturethereof, adjacent to the top wall extension 22, and extends rearwardlyand downwardly, terminating in a snap hook 34, or other suitableseparable connector, adjacent to and spaced above the lower edge of theside wall. A tab 35 is secured at one end between the side wall 23 andbottom wall 17 adjacent to the forward edge 18 of the latter, and is`provided at its other end with an eyelet 36 for reception of the hook34.

In placing the cover 12 over the casing 11, it is only necessary todisconnect the hooks and eyelets 34 and 36, and slip the cover over therear end of the casing. Due to manufacturing tolerances, it is necessarythat the cover loosely fit over the casing. The hooks and eyes 34 and 36may then be connected, thereby placing the resilient bands 32 intension, so as to draw the top and bottom cover walls 2@ and 17,respectively, tightly across and in engagement with their adjacentcasing sides. The top wall extension 22 Ais then pulled inwardly orforwardly through the window opening, which action, through the elasticmembers 32, will effect forward movement of the bottom wall edge 18 intoengagement with the sill 13. Continued inward drawing of the extension22 will pull the rear cover wall 19 upwardly and conformably against therear casing wall, so that the bottom, rear and top cover walls are allin smooth, taut, distended condition, and in facing engagement withtheir adjacent cabinet sides. Further, elongation or tensioning of theresilient member 32, in the above described manner, serves toresiliently maintain the side wall 23, and its stiifening member 27 infacing engagement with the adjacent casing side.

While the cover 12 will substantially maintain itself in the abovedescribed, tightly enclosing relation with respect to the casing, thewindow sash may, if desired, be lowered to clamp the top wall extension22 against the casing, so as to positively hold the cover in position.In this condition, the resilient members serve to draw the bottom wallupwardly against and forwardly along the cabinet underside; and, thebottom wall in turn draws the rear and top cover walls downwardly andrearwardly, respectively, tightly across their adjacent cabinet sides.

In order to remove the cover 12 from the casing 11, it is only necessaryto reverse the above described procedure; or, the cover may be removedwithout disconnecting the hooks and eyes 34, 36 by raising the windowsash 15 and forcibly drawing the cover outwardly so as to slip off ofthe casing.

While the cover of the present invention has been illustrated anddescribed as employing elastic bands each having a single hook or otherdetachable connector, it is, of course, appreciated that a greaternumber of hooks could also be employed, as where it is desired tocompletely .A detach the resilient member. Or, the hooks may bedispensed with entirely, where it is not objectionable to tension theelastic members prior to slipping the cover on the casing. Further, anysuitable resilient means, such as a spring or the like, may besubstituted for the elastic band 32 without departing from the scope ofthis invention.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides acover for a cabinet disposed within a window opening, which fullyaccomplishes its intended objects and which is well adapted to meetpractical conditions of use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes may be made within the spirit of theinvention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A cover for a cabinet disposed within a window opening, said coverbeing fabricated of flexible sheet material and comprising a bottom wallfor engagement with the underside of said cabinet, a rear wall securedto said bottom wall and engageable with the rear of said cabinet, a pairof spaced side walls secured to said rear and bottom walls andengageable with opposite sides of said cabinet, a top wall secured tosaid rear and side walls and engageable with the upper side of saidcabinet, a forward extension on said top wall adapted to underlie thewindow sash and be clamped thereby against the upper side of saidcabinet to tix said top wall in position, a resilient tension membersecured exteriorly on each of said side walls and extending forwardlyand upwardly toward said forward extension for drawing said bottom wallupwardly against and forwardly along said cabinet underside, wherebysaid rear and top walls will be drawn downwardly and rearwardly,respectively, tightly across their adjacent cabinet sides against theclamping action of said window sash.

2. A cover according to claim l, in combination with stiffening meansarranged transversely of said resilient tension members and secured tosaid side walls inwards of said tension members, whereby said side wallsare held in flat distended condition firmly against their adjacentcabinet sides.

3. A cover according to claim 2, in combination with a separableconnector in each of said tension members permitting the loosening ofsaid cover on said cabinet to thereby facilitate placement and removalof said cover with respect to said cabinet.

4. A cover for a cabinet disposed within a window opening on the windowsill, said cover being fabricated of flexible sheet material andcomprising a bottom wall for engagement with the underside of saidcabinet exteriorly of said sill, a rear wall secured to said bottom walland engageable with the rear of said cabinet, a pair of spaced sidewalls secured to said rear and bottom walls and extending forwardlybeyond said bottom wall for covering engagement with the opposite sideportions of said cabinet disposed exteriorly of said window, the lowerforward regions of said side walls remaining unsecured, a top wallsecured to said rear and side walls and engageable with the upper sideof said cabinet, a flap on said top wall extending forwardly beyond saidside walls for underlying the window sash to be clamped thereby againstthe upper side of said cabinet for fixing said top wall in position, aresilient tension member disclosed exteriorly of each side wall havingone end secured to the upper forward region of the associated side walland having its other end secured to the associated side wall adjacent tothe forward edge of said bottom wall, whereby said bottom wall will bedrawn by said tension members forwardly toward said sill and upwardlytightly across the underside of said cabinet, and `said top and rearwalls will be drawn downwardly and rearwardly, respectively, tightlyacross their adjacent cabinet sides against the clamping action of saidwindow sash.

5. A covering according to claim 4, in combination with an elongatedstitening member secured to each of said side walls inwardly of theadjacent tension member, each of said stiffening members extendingtransversely across the adjacent tension member between the upperrearward and lower forward regions of the associated side wall tomaintain the latter distended and prevent apping motion of the unsecuredlower forward regions of said side walls, said tension members servingto urge said side walls and stifening members toward said cabinet sides,whereby said side Walls are maintained in their distended, non-flappingcondition in engagement with said cabinet sides.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS KraemerFeb. 26, 1884 Fernbach Feb. 19, 1918 Randolph Feb. l0, 1920 Aaron Mar.1, 1927 Downes-Martin Apr. 17, 1928 Finkelstein Aug. 6, 1935 Dotten Apr.5, 1938 Elliott Oct. 9, 1951 Hall et a1. Oct. 2l, 1952

